Take a break from daily routine to a nature's haven at Seogwipo City, Jeju Island

Seogwipo City takes up 47.1% of the total area of Jeju Island. There, you can see various volcanic topography features such as Seongsan Sunrise Peak, Yongmeori Beach and Seo-pjikoji Beach along 179km of coastline. Including Korea’s southernmost island of Marado, 12 islets are in its vicinity, with 10 of them uninhabited. The average temperature in the city is as high as 16.2°C, making it the warmest area of the country. Seogwipo is also home to a wonderful natural environment, unique traditional culture and abundant ecological resources.

The resort city is filled with the sweet smell of tangerines every spring and turned into the venue for fantastic ocean festivals every summer.

Seogwipo is a huge leisure sports complex. In warm and mild weather, you can enjoy golf, horse riding, hiking and many other activities all year round against the backdrop of vast grassland and the sea.

The columnar-shaped stone cliff sitting along Jungmun and Daepo Beaches feature exquisite hexagonal shapes and beautiful dark red colors. Protected as a natural monument of Jeju Island, the stone cliff located in the eastern part of the Jungmun Tourist Complex will let you realize the greatness and sublimity of Mother Nature. Sometimes, the cliff allows you to see waves rising no less than 70 feet.

Such a spectacle is also found in the Gaetkak Joint Belt, the biggest one of its kind in Korea, on Saekdal Beach. The east side of the belt houses well-developed sea caves split into two groups, with the lofty perpendicular cliffs situated in the middle. The pillar-shaped joints at Jonmosal Beach, formed when flowing lava met the vast sea, create a magnificent scene. The belt is a maximum 40m high and 1km wide.

The Saeyeon Bridge, opened in 2009, connects Seogwipo Port and Saeseom Island. Looking like the famous Burj Al Arab hotel, it shows off beautifully changing colors at night, with the reed lamps casting various hues of exotic light as they are shaken by the wind. The Saeseom Path begins from the island-side end of the Saeyeon Bridge. You will encounter the Sunrise Plaza and the Hill of the Wind past the reed forest, as well as the Trail of Lovers and Garden of Promise.

The 169m-long structure which boasts a 45m-high main tower was modeled after a sail fluttering in the wind. It is also famous for being the location where a Korean-Chinese couple exchanged marriage vows.

Mesmerizing Beach Scenery along Olle Road Course One

The well-known Jeju Olle Road begins at Siheung Elementary School in Seongsan-eup, Seogwipo. Reaching Gwangchigi Beach, past Malmioreum, Aloreum and Seongsan Floodgate, you are done with the first section, which measures 15km in length. The second section continues toward Onpyeong Port and you can take the hwy 12 to enter Jeju City.

Walking along the promenade, you can appreciate a whole variety of natural environmental features. If you are visiting for the first time, you are recommended to begin at the Gapa Island section by the crystal blue sea and vast barley fields. Here, you will have the pleasant illusion of the open barley field rushing towards you like waves. It is also interesting to view the various mural paintings found along the village alleyways.

Town of Museums of Everything

Meanwhile, the Jeju Folk Village Museum and nearby Seongeup Folk Museum restore the old thatched houses, scenery and customs of the island.

The only one of its kind in Asia, the Jeju Chocolate Museum presents you with top-quality chocolate. The World Automobile Jeju Museum is also Asia’s first automobile museum to be owned and run by an individual. It is home to approximately 70 classic cars, three light aircraft and a mini car experience hall which allows kids to experience driving their own toy cars.

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